13/03/2009 / LEBANON
Pink taxis for girls only
The car's pink and so is the tie, lipstick and flower in the hair of the woman who's driving it. Welcome to the new Beirut taxis. That is, if you're female. Men are strictly banned.
The idea was first launched in the UK in 2006 by Pink Ladies Cabs. The 100% female driving squad is charged with getting party-goers home safely once the bars have closed. Now, the concept has arrived in the Middle East. Nayaghi taxi company rolled out three pink Peugeots under the name "Banet Taxis" (girl taxis) on Tuesday.
"This is a money-making initiative; from a women’s rights point of view it’s completely ridiculous"
Yara Harakeh, 23, has just completed her studies in biochemistry and is currently looking for a job.
The only positive thing about ‘Banet Taxis' is that for the
first time ever, we're seeing women taxi drivers in Beirut! However, I don't
like this idea at all. It's sexual discrimination. We women demand the same
rights as men but our objective is not to divide the two communities. If we're
asking to share the same things as men, then we should also be taking taxis
with them. This is a money-making initiative; from a women's rights point of
view it's completely ridiculous."
"In my opinion it's also a good excuse for men to go out separately from their wives"
Paul Chahine is a businessman from Beirut.
We're seeing increasing numbers of tourists from more
conservative Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, and the tourist
industry here is trying to adapt to their customs. This idea must have
come out of that. [The Lebanese tourism minister, who supported the initiative,
admitted that the main reason for setting it up was to satisfy women visiting
from the Gulf, who didn't want to travel with men]. In my opinion it's also a
good excuse for men to go out separately from their wives."
Comments
The only positive thing
Submitted by Mike (not verified) on Tue, 07/04/2009 - 15:52.The only positive thing about ‘Banet Taxis' is that for the first time ever, we're seeing women taxi drivers in Beirut! However, I don't like this idea at all. It's sexual discrimination. We women demand the same rights as men but our objective is not to divide the two communities. If we're asking to share the same things as men, then we should also be taking taxis with them. This is a money-making initiative; from a women's rights point of view it's completely ridiculous." I think this is great solution. Girls could feel safe. Mike from
grow taller 4 idiots review guide.
Lady taxi drivers
Submitted by shutterbug on Sun, 15/03/2009 - 19:27.Hand on heart, I don't have a problem with this. In Liverpool, where the private hire taxis are all fully licensed and agency operated, a woman driver can be requested if a female passenger feels uncomfortable with a male driver. In other cities, where anyone with a car can sit outside a club late at night and tout for passengers, the threat to a woman becomes very real. Liverpool private hire cars have to show their license on the rear of their vehicles and also on the inside, where a passenger can note the name of the driver, his picture, and his license number. They are also expected by law to have a plate on both sides of the car, showing the agency they are licensed with. By law, the car cannot pick up passengers unless they (the passenger) telephone the agency and book the car.
Basically, the drivers are displaying their name, address and telephone number for prospective passengers.
With some of the nut-cases knocking about, the idea of a lady driver only service is a damn good one.
David